Bahrain expresses 'astonishment' at South Africa's decision to establish relations

Bahrain has expressed "astonishment" over South Africa's decision to establish diplomatic relations with the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic "SADR," when "the United Nations is exerting serious efforts to reach a political solution to the (Sahara) conflict that has been straining relations between brotherly Maghreban countries for third decades."

Citing a source in the Foreign Ministry, the Bahraini press agency said minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Abdelghaffar, voiced "astonishment" over this decision during a meeting with the South African ambassador in Manama.

The Bahraini official asked for clarifications over Pretoria's decision to establish relations with "SADR," the same source added.

On Wednesday, Morocco decided to recall its ambassador to South Africa for consultation, voicing "disappointment" over Pretoria's decision, which described as "surprising and inopportune."

"SADR" claims over the Moroccan Sahara has created tensions within the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), in particular between Morocco and Algeria because of this latter's backing to the separatists.